The new senior enlisted leader for Joint Task Force North has some straightforward goals for his job.

Army Command Sgt. Maj. Tim Dotson wants to serve as a mentor and coach to the command’s enlisted soldiers and take care of them and their families. He also wants to serve as a second set of eyes and ears for JFT North’s new commanding general, Brig. Gen. Kurt S. Crytzer, who took command Oct. 8.

Dotson said that if he is successful in those two goals, then the unit will succeed in its mission. Joint Task Force North, with about 200 service members and civilians, provides behind-the-scenes support to federal law-enforcement agencies in their fight against international drug trafficking and narco-terrorism.

“We will not fail while I’m here,” said Dotson, a 51-year-old originally from San Antonio. He took over as the task force’s senior enlisted leader this summer.

Dotson has spent about 20 of his 30 years in the Army serving in the 75th Ranger Regiment. Most recently, he spent 10 years at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., including being command sergeant major for the 2nd Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division.

His family has remained behind in Yelm, Wash. His wife, Connie, has a good job there, they own a house and their youngest daughter, Heather, is a sophomore in high school, Dotson said.

“As much as I want to be with my family, here is where I belong right now and I am honored to be here,” he said.

Dotson has deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan once each with Stryker units. He also deployed to Panama and has done multiple tours with the Rangers in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

Dotson concedes that this could be his last assignment in the Army.

If that is the case, “it’s been a good career,” he said.

Crytzer said Dotson stresses standards and training, but is also a very caring individual.